Maryland Department of Health officials are advising Marylanders to stock up on free COVID-19 tests for the fall and winter. COVID-19 tests are now available at COVIDtests.gov and through many local health departments statewide.
In June, we reported that construction had begun at Dave’s Hot Chicken at 12345 Columbia Pike in White Oak. According to a representative from Dave’s, the location is anticipating a mid-November opening. (more…)
Talent is one of the most important factors influencing where companies choose to invest, expand, and grow. As competition for skilled workers intensifies, employers are embracing a broader talent strategy: one that leverages partnerships. Last week, almost 120 business leaders, elected officials, and members of Montgomery County’s business community attended the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation’s (MCEDC) panel, “The Talent Advantage: A Growth Strategy for Companies in Montgomery County, Maryland,” to hear how local businesses are capitalizing on the County’s world-class academic institutions, innovation ecosystem, quality of life, and economic development resources to attract and retain top talent.
Moderated by Dr. Anne Khademian, Executive Director at The Universities at Shady Grove (USG), the panel included executives from businesses and institutions across industries, including Lockheed Martin, TrilliumBIO, Thales Defense & Security, Johns Hopkins, Montgomery College, and AstraZeneca, who discussed their companies’ strategies for developing their workforce.
Talent as a Business Strategy
For companies competing in highly specialized industries like the defense industry, access to talent directly influences where they choose to locate and grow. For Lockheed Martin, which employs nearly 1,000 people in Montgomery County, talent is one of the primary reasons the company chose to be headquartered here.
“Talent is in the top one or two reasons why we are in the County,” said Todd Cohen, Senior Lead of Strategic Workforce Development, Lockheed Martin.
According to Cohen, Lockheed Martin begins working with partners to develop their talent pipeline well before students enter the workforce, including partnering with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) on programs such as coding challenges. Lockheed Martin also maintains close relationships with local higher education institutions, including the Universities at Shady Grove (USG).
That local talent pipeline is also an important factor for AstraZeneca, which employs more than 5,000 employees and contractors in Montgomery County. According to Tiffany Lukis, Director of STEM and Community Engagement at AstraZeneca, the company often taps into its alumni base from Montgomery College (ranked #26 nationally among community colleges) and USG (which offers nine different public universities onto one campus), and other local institutions to fill highly technical roles.
Local Companies Are Developing Talent and Not Just Finding It
According to the panelists, investing in existing employees is just as important as recruiting new ones.
At Suburban Hospital, workforce development is closely tied to talent retention. The hospital partners with local educational institutions to provide employees with opportunities to gain new skills and advance their careers. Programs include a Certified Nursing Assistant program through Montgomery College and English as a Second Language classes.
“A huge part of our talent strategy is to prioritize holding on to our top tier talent,” said Corey Lewson, MSW, Program Manager, Workforce Development, John Hopkins Medicine.
For smaller companies, developing talent internally can be especially valuable. Lane Edwards, Vice President of Operations, TrilliumBIO, a biomarker discovery company with fewer than 20 employees based in Rockville, described the challenge of balancing the need for highly specialized expertise with the realities of building a team at an early-stage company.
“When it comes to hiring, we have to be very strategic,” Lane said. “Do we have someone who has the expertise or someone that we can build on?”
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The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services is recognizing October as “Safe Sleep Awareness Month” by hosting events to promote safe infant sleep practices, including the #ClearTheCrib challenge, to help reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths. (more…)
MedStar Health has announced the world’s first all-plastic total ankle replacement surgery, successfully performed on a Montgomery County, Maryland woman at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
At The Head Spa by Bare, we believe that true beauty begins with a healthy scalp, its your unique wellness experience for the mind and body. Relax with aromatherapy and gentle massages while healing your scalp.
Head Spa Facial rituals are a unique and luxurious experience that focuses on relaxing and revitalizing the scalp and hair. These rituals combine traditional Japanese techniques with modern spa treatments to provide a holistic approach to wellness.
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Bring your family and friends to our free , all-day outdoor Oktoberfest celebration. These will be an outdoor craft fair featuring local artisans and professional woodworkers, a chainsaw carving, woodworking and tool demonstrations by Festool, Montgomery Wood Turners and Carvers. There will also be lots of delicious food provided by El Parente Tacos, El Jeffe Wood-fired pizzas, Bruster's Ice cream and seasonal craft brews from Saints Row Brwsing Company.
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Update: London Newsome and Acet’Ola Harris have been located safe and unharmed.
Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating two missing 13-year-old girls from Silver Spring. (more…)
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for a water rescue in the area of Hillwood Manor Park (1300 Elson St), off of 13th street near Linden Lane, on Tuesday morning.
Montgomery Parks is inviting everyone to indulge in the glory of fall at their nature centers. There are offerings for everyone, from toddlers to adults, and those in-between. Go kayaking, night fishing, or have a scary-fun time at one of our Halloween-themed events.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a crash involving “several vehicles including a tractor-trailer” on southbound I-270 on Tuesday morning.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to Snouffer School Rd. and Centerway Rd. in Gaithersburg following a crash involving two vehicles at approximately 9:30am Tuesday morning.
The Montgomery County Department of Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is investigating a fatal pedestrian collision that occurred on the evening of Thursday, September 26, in Silver Spring. (more…)
With small cities often offering significantly lower costs of living than large cities, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2024’s Best Small Cities in America, with three Maryland cities coming in ranked in the top 6%.